Oxford Lives
Oxford is a wonderful city in which to live, and If you have the good fortune to call yourself a resident you are probably here because you value its incredible mix of people and cultures. However, whether local or visitor, your own personal network of friends and colleagues can only touch a small proportion of the fascinating people who call this place home.
We set up this podcast to seek out some of the individuals that we find interesting and explore their lives and stories. They are not all celebrated or well-known, but what they do and what they think add another dimension to the familiar narrative of town, gown and tourism. Hopefully you will find it an insight and an introduction to interesting and unfamiliar parts of our community.
So, relax and select someone from the cast below and get to know a bit more about a particular Oxford life.
With Jeremy Allen
Produced by Graeme Fry
As a compliment to our podcast we have produced a self-guided tour where we look at Oxford’s links to fantasy literature and the many writers who have lived and worked here. So if you find yourself in Oxford prepare to be whisked away to other worlds full of Hobbits, Orcs and parallel universes!
https://voicemap.me/tour/oxford/literary-legends-and-landmarks-a-fantasy-fiction-tour-of-oxford
- Update frequency
- every 24 days
- Average duration
- 55 minutes
- Episodes
- 67
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Oxford Lives - Episode 66 CS Lewis Special with Professor Simon Horobin
Today’s guest is Simon Horobin – philologist, author, and Professor of English Language and Literature and Tutorial Fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. Simon has just written a fascinating account o…
Oxford Lives - Episode 65 Oxford Pub Special (Part Two)
In this second part of our pub special with Jeremy Smith, we embark upon a virtual pub tour of East Oxford, starting at the Plain and ending in Florence Park. On our wobbly journey, we encounter ghos…
Oxford Lives - Episode 64 Oxford Pub Special (Part One)
In this second collaboration with Curious Minds, we embark upon the first of two virtual pub tours around the city with podcast regular, Jeremy Smith. In Part One we explore the City Centre’s numerou…
Oxford Lives - Episode 63 Oxford Crime Writers Special (Part Two)
Part Two of our special edition Oxford Lives collaboration with Curious Minds: Murder They Wrote. This panel discussion features many of Oxford's top crime writers: Colin Wade (Murder at the Manor, T…
Oxford Lives - Episode 62 Oxford Crime Writers Special (Part One)
In this special edition of Oxford Lives we team up with Curious Minds for a panel discussion on the subject of Murder Mysteries. The discussion features many of Oxford's top crime writers: Colin Wade…
Oxford Lives - Episode 61 with Jake Lynch
Today's guest is journalist, academic, novelist, and poet, Jake Lynch. In a varied career, Jake has been Sydney Correspondent for The Independent, Political Correspondent for Sky News, and BBC World …
Oxford Lives - Episode 60 with Sharron Jenkinson
Today we talk to archivist for the Oxford Welsh Male Voice, Sharron Jenkinson. It’s a fascinating story of talent, tradition, and brotherhood, borne out of Welsh migration to the city in the Great De…
Oxford Lives - Episode 59 with JC Niala
Today's episode of Oxford Lives feateres writer, poet, storyteller, historian and social anthropologist, JC Niala. With a career spanning cities and continents, JC NIala has a vast experience in mult…
Oxford Lives - Episode 58 with Professor Danny Dorling
Today’s guest is Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the School of Geography and the Environment, here at the University of Oxford. Danny has published (with colleagues) more …
Oxford Lives - Episode 57 with Dr Jim Holt
In the latest edition of Oxford Lives we interview Dr Jim Holt, retired consultant physician and former Director of Studies at Oxford Medical School. Dr Holt has spent most of his professional life i…
Oxford Lives - Episode 56 with Marcus Rees
In this Episode of Oxford LIves we talk to writer, tour guide and wine aficionado, Marcus Rees. In a packed interview, we cover Marcus's student days at Jesus college, his early trips to French viney…
Oxford Lives - Episode 55 with Julie Kleeman and Yeshi Jampa
This episode of Oxford Lives features Julie Kleeman and Yeshi Jampa, who run the fabulous Taste Tibet restaurant in Easy Oxford and can currently be seen selling their exquisite cuisine all over the …
Oxford Lives - Episode 54 with Nigel Ewers
New College was founded in 1379 by master mason William of Wykeham as a self-contained institution to quarantine and train priests at the time of the Black Death. As well as being one of the first Ox…
Oxford Lives - Episode 53 with Malcolm Graham
Oxford Covered market 250th Anniversay Special with Malcolm Graham
The Covered Market is currently celebrating its 250th anniversary. From its origins as a meat market built to declutter the bloodi…
Oxford Lives - Episode 52 with Anna Eavis
In today's episode of Oxford Lives we talk to Anna Eavis, who has just taken over the role of CEO for Oxford Preservation Trust. We ask Anna about the role of the trust in maintaining historically si…
Oxford Lives - Episode 51 Anniversary Special
50th Anniversary Special. To celebrate 50 episodes of the podcast, we recently held a live recording at the Bullingdon on Cowley Rd. The event was a panel discussion on 'Parallel Oxfords' with three …
Oxford Lives - Episode 50 with Rawz
This episode of Oxford Lives features an interview with musician, rapper, poet, and community artist, Rawz. Rawz has seen Oxford from both sides, having grown up in the Town (Greater Leys) and worked…
Oxford Lives - Episode 49 with Jonathan Self
Tolkien-Lewis Special. In this edition of Oxford Lives we examine the lives of two of Oxford’s most esteemed residents: JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. They first met at a Merton College English Faculty me…
Oxford Lives - Episode 48 with Karen Ford
Karen Ford is a prolific actor with a vast range of experience in stage and screen to her name. Perhaps her best-known role is that of Miss Booth in the BBC children’s drama, Grange Hill, playing a m…
Oxford Lives - Episode 47 with Ronak Sahni
On this episode of Oxford Lives we interview Ronak Sahni from SWAT (Sikh Welfare & Awareness). SWAT are a charitable organisation committed to transforming the lives of disadvantaged members of the c…